Stigma, Culture, and HIV and AIDS in the Western Cape, South Africa: An Application of the PEN-3 Cultural Model for Community-Based Research
Open accessAbstract
HIV- and AIDS-related stigma has been reported to be a major factor contributing to the spread of HIV. In this study, the authors explore the meaning of stigma and its impact on HIV and AIDS in South African families and health care centers. They conducted focus group and key informant interviews among African and Colored populations in Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, and Mitchell’s Plain in the Western Cape province. The audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and coded using NVivo. Using the PEN-3 cultural model, the authors analyzed results showing that participants’ shared experiences ranged from positive/nonstigmatizing, to existential/ unique to the contexts, to negative/stigmatizing. Families and health care centers were found to have both positive nonstigmatizing values and negative stigmatizing characteristics in addressing HIV/AIDS-related stigma. The authors conclude that a culture-centered analysis, relative to identity, is central to understanding the nature and contexts of HIV/AIDS-related stigma in South Africa.
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The assessment phase of the PEN-3 model provided the opportunity to arrange emerging themes at the intersection of two domains to assess for any domain interactions.
“This approach which is often referred to as the assessment phase of the PEN-3 model provided the opportunity to arrange the emerging themes at the intersection of two domains to assess for any domain interactions (Airhihenbuwa et al. 2009; Airhihenbuwa and Webster 2004).”
From Framing the impact of culture on health: a systematic review of the PEN-3 cultural model and its application in public health research and interventions (2014) · cites this paper as Airhihenbuwa et al. 2009
Understanding how families cope with health and illness is central to developing sustainable public health interventions aimed at reducing HIV and AIDS stigma, particularly with identifying key members of the family who have made a difference in the lives of PLWHA.
“In describing the impact of AIDS-related stigma, using the PEN-3 model, Airhihenbuwa et al. (2009) noted that understanding how families cope with health and illness is central to developing sustainable public health interventions aimed at reducing HIV and AIDS stigma, particularly with identifying key members of the family who have made a difference in the lives of PLWHA.”
From Framing the impact of culture on health: a systematic review of the PEN-3 cultural model and its application in public health research and interventions (2014) · cites this paper as Airhihenbuwa et al. 2009
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References 59 · Cited by 102
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- Authors
- Airhihenbuwa, C., Okoror, T., Shefer, T., Brown, D., Iwelunmor, J., Smith, E., Adam, M., Simbayi, L., Zungu, N., Dlakulu, R., & Shisana, O.
- Affiliations
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- Purdue University West Lafayette (US)
- University of the Western Cape (ZA)
- Human Sciences Research Council (ZA)
- University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Corresponding author
- Airhihenbuwa, Collins
- Venue
- Journal of Black Psychology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2009-02-02
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 407-432
- ISSN
- 0095-7984 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-4558
- PMC
- PMC3324276
- OpenAlex
- W2012397569
- Cited by
- 102
- References
- 59
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 2.99
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Journal of Black Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (R24MH068180)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › HIV/AIDS Impact and Responses
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › African Sexualities and LGBTQ+ Issues
- Keywords
- HIV stigma, PEN-3 cultural model, cultural identity, health centers, Western Cape, Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Mitchell's Plain, community-based research
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